Governor Obado survives Ayacko onslaught at appellate court

Migori County Governor Okoth Obado with his lawyer Roger Sagana after the ruling. [Denish Ochieng, Standard]

The court of Appeal in Kisumu has upheld the victory of Migori Governor Okoth Obado in last year’s General Election.

In the verdict read by Justice Steven Gatembu, the judges ruled that former minister Ochillo Ayacko failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the election was not conducted within the law.

Ochilo has been ordered to pay a Sh2 million costs bill for the appeal, a reduction from the Sh6 million ordered by the High Court.

Withdrawing appeal

On July 18; Ochilo confirmed that his legal team had written to Governor Obado's lawyers notifying them of intentions to withdrawal the appeal.

"I have decided to withdraw the petition. My lawyers have already sent a letter to Mr Obado's lawyers communicating my intention. The same letter has been copied to the Court of Appeal," Ochillo told a local newspaper.